Divergence of Viscosity in Jammed Granular Materials: A Theoretical Approach

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical model for the viscosity divergence in jammed granular materials using a nonequilibrium steady-state distribution, matching simulation results without fitting parameters.

Contribution

It introduces an explicit nonequilibrium distribution function for jammed granular materials in the weak dissipation regime, providing a quantitative theoretical framework.

Findings

The theory accurately predicts the critical behavior of viscosity near jamming.

The model aligns with molecular dynamics simulations without fitting parameters.

It offers a new approach to understanding viscosity divergence in granular materials.

Abstract

A theory for jammed granular materials is developed with the aid of a nonequilibrium steady-state distribution function. The approximate nonequilibrium steady-state distribution function is explicitly given in the weak dissipation regime by means of the relaxation time. The theory quantitatively agrees with the results of the molecular dynamics simulation on the critical behavior of the viscosity below the jamming point without introducing any fitting parameter.